Cuomo Nominates Union Pres To MTA Board
Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week nominated TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen to serve on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board.
If approved by the state Senate, Samuelsen will become the first Local 100 president to ever sit on the board, which meets monthly to set policy for the largest transit system in the United Sates.
Cuomo nominated Samuelsen to fill a now-vacant non-voting seat that traditionally goes to a representative of organized labor. TWU Local 100 members will now have a direct voice on issues of great concern to workers and riders.
A trackworker by title, Samuelsen, 48, of Brooklyn, was elected to his third term as Local 100 president in December 2015. TWU Local 100 has approximately 42,000 members. The vast majority are bus and subway workers employed by the MTA. The Local 100 membership, however, also includes workers at private school bus, bike share and tour bus companies, as well as Liberty Lines Transit Inc. in Westchester County.
MTA board members are volunteers and do not receive pay for their service.
Ortiz Bill Allows Young Adults To Donate Organs
Assembly Member and Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz (Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood Heights) announced that his legislation allowing young adults to enroll in the NYS Donate Life Registry (A.4990-B/ S.5313-A) has passed the assembly.
The legislation lowers the minimum enrollment age from 18 to 16 years old to register as an organ and tissue donor. Currently, New York State is one of only four states in the nation that requires an individual be 18 or older to register as an organ and tissue donor. In 48 other registries, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, there is either no age restriction to join the donor registry, or the minimum age is younger than eighteen.
Lowering the age would allow 16 and 17 year olds to document their intent to make an anatomical gift, while preserving the parents’ ability to make the final authorization for donation until their child reaches the age of eighteen.
“New York continues to have the least successful donor registry rate in the nation and the longest waiting list for people requiring transplants. Allowing residents under 18 who register their intent to join the state’s donor registry when they apply for a driver’s license is a sensible and effective way to increase and improve this program. Passage of the young organ donor bill will give new hope to the many patients on the transplant waiting list,” said Ortiz.
Cornegy Holds Bike Around District Event
City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. (Bed-Stuy, Northern Crown Heights) is inviting residents to join him in a bike ride around the district next week.
The ride will start at Restoration’s West Plaza over to St. Andrews and Brower Parks in Crown Heights then down to Von King and Fulton Parks in Bed-Stuyand ending back at Restoration Plaza.
The ride is slated for next Wednesday, June 15 with an arrival time at 5:45 p.m. and roll out at 6:15 p.m.
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1680997502151309/?active_tab=posts or call (718) 919-0740 ext. 100.
Levin Applauds City’s Purchase Of Bushwick Inlet Park
City Councilman Stephen Levin (Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill) yesterday lauded the Mayor Bill de Blasio administration for allocating $100 million to purchase the CitiStorage parcels to complete the Bushwick Inlet Park that was promised to the Williamsburg and Greenpoint communities over 11 years ago.
“This decision will have an impact for generations to come, not only through expanding much needed public space, but also by setting a precedent for future administrations and their commitments made to the public. New Yorkers can look to this fair offer as evidence that, under the de Blasio administration, when the City makes an obligation to infrastructure improvements as part of the land use process — as it committed to Bushwick Inlet Park as part of the 2005 Williamsburg-Greenpoint Rezoning — the City keeps that promise,” said Levin.
“I believe that the owners of the CitiStorage parcel should accept this very generous and fair offer by the City, so that we can get started on building out this glorious park that will be enjoyed for generations to come,” he added.
Savino Honors Brooklynite As Woman Of Distinction
State Senator Diane Savino (Coney Island, Staten Island) honored Brooklynite native Ms. April Leong as the Senate’s Woman of Distinction for women that leave their marks on their neighborhoods and surrounding communities at large.
Leong was an integral member of the team who brought the nationally recognized Alternative H.S. Initiative, Diploma Plus to New York City. As an Assistant Principal April successfully transformed two underperforming suspension sites. With a Bachelor’s degree from Baruch, Masters Degrees from both College of St. Rose and Brooklyn College, she conceived, developed and opened her own alternative high school and is now the founding principal of Liberation Diploma Plus High School, where she continues to be a strong student advocate, educator, family and community supporter, and fearless leader.
“The Senate’s Women of Distinction program provides a special opportunity to honor women for their achievements and to thank them for the pride they bring to our communities,” said Savino. “April Leong’s commitment to not only her community but to our Annual Back to School Blast in Coney Island, where year after year we provide a number of kids with school supplies at Liberation Diploma Plus High School is the very reason I chose Ms.Leong. She is a remarkable woman in our midst whose selflessness and special accomplishments have contributed to not only making our Coney Island community better but the lives of the many students she inspires and she deserves to be celebrated, for Ms. Leong serves as a special example to others.”
Brooklyn Pride Parade Tomorrow
Brooklyn Pride Co-chairs Mickey Heller and Jamie Farnam announced the selection of NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst), New York State Supreme Court Judge Debra Silber and GRIOT Circle as grand marshals for the 20th Annual Brooklyn Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade and Festival which will be held tomorrow in Park Slope.
Brooklyn Pride was founded in 1996 by several Brooklyn LGBT residents looking to create an opportunity for local organizations, businesses, friends and supporters of equal rights to come together in solidarity and celebration, and bring visibility to the multi-cultural LGBT community in the borough.
It is a volunteer-managed non-profit organization working for and on behalf of LGBT Brooklynites and all others who support the struggle for equality of this community.
The parade kicks off tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Place and 5th Avenue, ending at 9th Street and 5th Avenue. The festival runs from 11:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is held on 5th Avenue stretching from 5th to 9th Streets. For more information visit: http://brooklynpride.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PrideGuide_2016web2.pdf
